Clamping device



Dec. 4, 1934. F, w s zER 1,983,050

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 3.

Dec; 4, 1934.

' Filed Aug. 26, 1933 F. w. SIZER 1,983,050

CLAMP ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 5.

Patented Dec. 4', 1934 4 33:? A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMPINGDEVICE rrei w. Sizer, Harbert, Michq.Apptatsnama 26, 1933, Serial No. 636,862

p U f C aims. (o1;: t -19) V My invention relates to devices that aredea middle rib terminating in alug,11, which bears signed to clampcylindrical objects for the pura slight countersink 12.

pose of holding them against rotation, or to assist Jaw 4 is similarlyribbed by parts 13 and 14 and V inproducingrotation of said objects-Such'deallare integral with the base, 5.

5 vices'are commonly known as pipe vises and pipe The base, 5, isprovided with holes, 9, so that wrenches, t a it maybe secured by screwsor bolts to a bench The object of my invention is to improve the orother fixedobject.

method of clampingcommonly employed in such- A yoke, 15, is pivotallyconnected to the ribs,

devices at the present time, by providing remov- 13 and 14,.by a pin,16, which passes through said lo ableiand interchangeable jaw linerswhich are ribs andissecured therein. The upper end of made from amaterial'that is softer than the obthe yoke, 15, is threaded to receivea screw, 17, ject to. be clamped that has ahigh friction 00- whichco-operates with the countersink, 12, in efficient; that hasconsiderable elasticity; and lug 11,".to apply pressure to the jaws.

\ further, by shapingsaid liners so that the clamp- A handle, 18, havingenlarged ends, 19, is s1idl5"- ing pressurewill be distributedevenly,over alarge ablysupported in the head of the screw, 17.

surface area of said clamped objectQand thereby i The operation of thevise is as follows: The

avoid marring or distortingsaidobject. screw, 17, is loosened by turningthe handle, 18.

i A further object is to make possible the holding The yoke, 15, canthen be swung on the pivot, 16,

of materials having a special cross-section, as as shown in Fig. 3. Thiswill give clearance for 5)- ovals or irregular-shapes. i the upper jaw,to be swung 011 the pivot, to 75 A further object is to make possiblethe use of a convenient position for inserting the desired material, formaking said 1iners,'that is readily jaw liners.

obtainable, inexpensive and easily formed to the The object to beclamped is placed in the groove required size and shape. of the lowerliner. Then the upper liner and 1;. These objects are obtained by theimproved jaw andthe yoke; 15, are returned to the posi- 8i) mechanismshown in the accompanying drawtion shown in Fig. 1, and the screw, 1'7,tightened ings, in whichi r by operating the handle, 18. The end of theFig. 1 is a side. elevationof one form of my Scr w D ess 011 the andforces the pp invention that would be known as a pipe vise. jaw towardthe lower jaw. The liners,thus are so Fig. 2 is a front elevation of'thevise as shown pressed into tight contact with the object to be i Fig, 1,i i clamped and are pushed into the tapered jaws, 3 Fig. 3 is also aside elevation, but shows the and 4. This wedging action compresses theliners jaws open to facilitate the insertion of material. late a ly andsults in a pr u app d to the Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a form of myin-: sides of the clamped object as well as the top vention that wouldbe known as apipe wrench. a d un positions By th distributin the Fig. 5is a front elevation of the wrench. as pre ure v y, l nd the j a v ylshown in Fig. 4. p v a a a oient holding friction is created withoutmarring Fig. 6 is also a si e elevation; showing the jaws or distortion.

op n, When the vertical pressure is released by again similar u ral r ft i il parts turning the screw, the elasticity of the liners throughoutth v ral vi W111 cause them to release the lateral pressure 1 is a jawliner, which I prefer to make of wood, as Wellthough other suitablematerials may be em- Referring Figs- 5 a the J played, These 1iner artapered on th Sides is similar to liners 1, and might be used inter-[15.Jt0 correspond with the tapering sides, 3a and 4a ehangeebly W h m.They o are tapered on of th jaw 3 a d 4, They may b of a length thesides to correspond with the tapered sides, corresponding to the widthof the jaws and are 23a and 24a of the jaws, 23 and 24. They are alsogrooved throughout their length to flt the contour grooved throughout eil th as Shown at 22. of the object to be clamped, as shown at 2. Clear-There should be clearance at 21a and 21b. 5e iances should bemaintaindat 1a and lb. The jaw 23 is pivotally connected to jaw 24 I05Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the upper jaw, 3, by a pin, 26, whichpasses through lugs, 27 and 28 is pivotally connected to the lower orstationary and is secured therein. jaw, 4, by a pin, 6, which passesthrough lugs, Jaw 23 is provided with integral ribs, 30, and and 8, andis secured therein. also a lug, 31, which has a hook like end, 32. 5'Jaw 31s provided with integral ribs, 10, and also Jaw 24 is similarlyprovided with ribs, 33, and

a threaded boss, 34. The ribs, 33, terminate in bosses, 25.

The handle, 35, is pivotally connected to jaw 24 by a pin, 36, whichpasses through the bosses, 25, and is secured therein.

The thumb-screw, 37, co-operating with the threaded boss, 34, providesan adjustable stop for the lug 31.

The handle, 35, terminates ina lug; 38, which also has a hook-like end,39, which co-operates with the lug 31.

A pawl, 40, is pivotally connected to the ribs, 33, of jaw 24 by a pin,41, which passes through said ribs and is secured therein.

The handle, 35, is further provided with a lug,

42, which co-operates with the pawl, 40 to limit the movement of saidhandle with relation to the jaw, 24. 1

The operation of the wrench is as follows: The pawl, 40, is moved in acounter clockwise direction onits pivot, 41, thus permitting the handle,35, to be moved in a counter clockwise direction on its pivot, 36amamount sufficient to permit the end, 32, of the lug,- 31 to clear theend, 39, of the lug, 33, on thehandle, 35, when the jaw, 23, is swung ina clockwise. direction on its pivot, 26, to a position convenient forinserting the desired jaw-liners, as shown in Fig. ,6- r

The jaws are then passed around the piece to be rotated and are broughttogether, so that said piece is surrounded and pressed-upon by theliners, 21.

The handle, 35, is then rotated in, a clockwise direction around thepivot, 36, until the lug 38, contacts with lug 31, on jaw 23. The pawl40, is then swung in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig.l.

Further movement of the handle, 35, in a clockwise direction, causes thelug 38, to press upon lug 31, and thus the jaws, 23 and 24, are

forced toward each other. The liners are thereby pressed into tightcontact with the piece to be rotated and are forced into the taperedjaws, 23 and 24. .This wedging action compresses the liners laterallyand thus brings pressureto bear on the sides of said piece, resulting in-a distributed pressure around said piece as previously described forthe vise. This pressure is controlled and limited lay-adjustment of thethumb-screw, 3'7.

Swinging the handle in a counter clockwise direction, releases thepressure of lug 38, against lug 31,. and thereby relieves the pressureon said piece, while the pawl, 40, contacting with the lug,-

42, onthe handle, prevents the jaw 23, from opening any more than isnecessary.

The jaws are thus rotated in a counter clockwise direction around saidpiece, while said piece remains stationary. Reversal of movement to aclockwise direction. again. brings pressure onto said piece as before,causing the liners to grip said piece tightly and make possible apowerful turning force without marring or distortion.

I anticipate the possibility of many modifications of the formsdescribed that would be within the scope of my invention; as, forinstance: the jaw liners comprising the friction element, may be made inone piece if the side opening feature be sacrificed, or in a pluralityof pieces to accommodate special shapes, if found desirable.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clamping device, comprising in combination with a friction elementof elastic material, composed of a plurality of sections, each of saidsections grooved to conform to a portion of the contour of the object tobe clamped and having tapered sides; a holder having tapered walls tosupport-said element, and means, actuating said holder for applyingpressure to said element.

, 2. A- clamping device, comprising incombination with afriction elementof elastic material, composed of a plurality of sections, each of saidsections grooved to conform to a portion of the contour of the objecttobe clamped and having tapered sides; a plurality of jaws, hingedtogether and having tapered walls to support said sections inco-operative relation, and means-for pressing said jaws toward eachother.

3. A clamping device,- comprising in combination with a friction elementof elastic material,

composed of a plurality of sections, each of said.

sectionsgrooved to conform to a portion'of the contour of the object tobe clamped and having tapered sides; a plurality of jaws, hingedtogether and having tapered wallsgto support said sections inco-operative relation, and a pivoted member, supporting threaded meansfor applying pressure to said jaws.

4. A clamping device, comprising in combination with a frictionelementofelastic material, composed of a plurality of sections, each of saidsections grooved to. conform to a portion of the contour of the objectto beclamped and having tapered sides; a plurality of jaws, hingedtogether and. having tapered walls to support said sections inco-operative relation; means for applying pressure to said jaws, andthreaded means for limiting saidpressure.

5. A clamping device, comprising in combination with a friction elementof elastic material, composed of a plurality of sections, each of saidsections grooved to conform to a portion of the,

contour of the object to be clamped and having tapered sides; aplurality of jaws, hinged together andhaving tapered walls to supportsaid sections in co-operative relation, and a pivotedmeans for applyingpressure to said jaws.

FRED W. SIZER.

